April 23, 2008

NAMRU-2 dispute is getting ugly

The government of Indonesia has been urged not to extend its cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research Institute, Unit No 2 (Namru-2).

The appeal was voiced by the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) and An Nashr Institute in a statement signed by MER-C Presidium Chairman Joserizal Jurnalis and An Nashr Institute`s Chairman Munarman.

In the release, made avalable to Antara here on Wednesday, MER-C and An Nashr also called for the deportation of US Naval staff and personnel of NAMRU-2 in Jakarta.

The call was made in view of the presence of NAMRU-2 in Indonesia over 30 years now, which failed to benefit the people of this world largest archipelagic country.

An agreement between the Indonesian and US governments on NAMRU-2 operations reached on January 16, 1970, was believed to have caused a loss to Indonesia because of the diplomatic immunity of the NAMRU-2 staff members, their tax exemption and free accommodation.

NAMRU-2 was also believed to have violated the cooperation agreement, because of their continued research work even that the contract had expired.

In addition, NAMRU-2 was also reported not transparent in their information for the Indonesian government and that their operations were allegedly linked to US intelligence operations in Indonesia.

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The government of Indonesia has been urged not to extend its cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research Institute, Unit No 2 (Namru-2).

The appeal was voiced by the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) and An Nashr Institute in a statement signed by MER-C Presidium Chairman Joserizal Jurnalis and An Nashr Institute`s Chairman Munarman.

In the release, made avalable to Antara here on Wednesday, MER-C and An Nashr also called for the deportation of US Naval staff and personnel of NAMRU-2 in Jakarta.

The call was made in view of the presence of NAMRU-2 in Indonesia over 30 years now, which failed to benefit the people of this world largest archipelagic country.

An agreement between the Indonesian and US governments on NAMRU-2 operations reached on January 16, 1970, was believed to have caused a loss to Indonesia because of the diplomatic immunity of the NAMRU-2 staff members, their tax exemption and free accommodation.

NAMRU-2 was also believed to have violated the cooperation agreement, because of their continued research work even that the contract had expired.

In addition, NAMRU-2 was also reported not transparent in their information for the Indonesian government and that their operations were allegedly linked to US intelligence operations in Indonesia.